Record repeater



Oct. 31, 1939. y 1 ,.1. ANDRES RECORD REPEATER Filed July 6, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Lul-mw @|0- www .INVENTOR Zaydazdres ATTORNEY.

O ct. 31, 1939. L.. J. ANDRES 2,177,764

I RECORD REPEATER Filed July 6, '1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 55 afg y l 'f 50 J3 xv. l

1Z0 /JZZ INVENTOR. 99 105 Qd/155' ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct.

PATENT- OFFICE RECORD REEATER Lloyd J. Andres, Chicago, lll., assignor to Automatic Instrument Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application Julyy 6, 1936,l Seriall No. 89,049

11 Claims. (Cl. 2474-15) This invention relates in general to a phonograph mechanism for automatically repeating .the playing of a record Without the attention of an'operator and has moreparticular reference to the controlling devices by which such repeating is effected.

Among the objects of the invention are; to providefor the proper playing of disc records of various diameters by manual lateraladjustment 1o of the pickup arm carriage and the longitudinal adjustment of the pickup arm; to .provide a vfully adjustable pickup arm cut-ofi device which is both positive and sensitive; to provide a constant pickup arm pressure maintained by an i l5 adjustable counterweight'; to provide a separate motor and associated mechanically operated vswitches to operate the pickup arm only; to provide a single unidirectional cam to control the necessary movements of the pickup arm;\,to pro- :o vide a fully automatic'repeating mechanism with a minimum number of partsyexclusive of the turntable and the driving motors; to provide a record repeater which is adapted tobe used in connection with a multiple switch mechanism 2;, for controlling electrical devices in a predetermined time relation with sound produced by a phonograph record; to provide a record repeater Yfor transmitting .a number of electrical impulses at each rotation of the disc record for control- 30 ling the operation of electroresponsive devices in 'timed relation to the record; and in general to produce the.` mechanism herein shown and' described. -f 'l' In 'the accompanying drawings 4illustrating a preferred` embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is applan view of a disc record -repeater with the record supporting table and pickup arm omitted;

Fig. 2 isa side elevation with parts in section 40 of the 'mechanism sho-wn in-Fig.A 1 and with the dlisc supporting tableand the pickup arm in Pace; i Fig. 3 is a detail elevation showing the 'cutofi switch mechanism `and the uni-directional. 45 cam for thepickup arm;

P Fig. 4 is asectional View of the cut-oft' switch; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5.-.5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a development of the pickup arm cam;

501 ',Fig. 7 isa view showing the cam which raises y 4and lowvrs thev pickup arm; j

l. Figpil is a top view showing the weight adiusting means of the pickup arm; and

vFig.- 9 is awlring diagram for the machine. 55 j In operating a` phonograph and using it tocontrol various visual andsound devices for various displays and demonstrations, it is desirable to repeat the operation of the phonograph n indefinitely without giving, manual attention thereto. 'This invention-therefore relates partic- 5 ularly to a phonograph of this-type in which the mechanism is capable of rapid and accurate adjustment to accommodate it easily and with as little change as; possible to records of different sizes, operated at different speeds, to ditlerent 10 record grooves, and to recorded records of different lengths. Provision is also made for repeating either manually or automatically. i

Referring-now more particularly to the drawings, a.l repeater phonograph mechanism vis l5 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprising a base l0 hav-jing a motor housing Il suitably secured thereto for receiving a. motor and suitable reduction gearing for driving a shaft I2 pointed on the upper end to receive the central periorations of disc records and for rotating a turntable I3 for supporting the records. A speed controlling lever 'I4 is mounted at the top o! thev motor housing and has a free extremityv movable toward the designations S and F designating fast and slow g5 to increase or decrease the driving speed of the motor.v

At the top of the housingand below the turntableis an angular cam I5 rotatable with the driving shaft and the angular extremities are 30 engageable with a spring contact member I 6 for making an electrical contact at each engagement with a relatively iixed contact member I1, the contact members I6 and 'l being held in position by an engagingI clip IB. .35

In the base at one side of the motor housing is a substantially rectangular opening 20 disposed at an angle to the sides of the base itself and forming a recess for a carriage 2| movable lengthwise of the motor and mounted to slide 40 4 upon bars 22 and 23 carried at the ends by frame projections 24.

.jections or lugs 2B at the upper sidey of the car- The rods extend through proriage, and 4one of the rods 22 has a' threaded portion atfone end extending through a corr- 4.5 f

sponding threaded portion inthe adjacent lug so that by rotating this rod by 'means ,ci a squared end 26 or a slot 21 at the end of the rod the carriage can be accurately adjustedand set with respect to the turntable'shatt for varying 5othe position of .the tone arm as hereafter setX forth. ,1 v

Mounted ina. hollow post 30 extending uprightlyfrom the carriage' is a rotatable shaft 3l across head 32 at the top having, a 55 33 of acam". plate 34 by means of adjustable pivots 35. This cam plate extends below the head 32 and an adjusting screw 36 is insertedl through an opening 31 in a projection 38 of f the head for limiting the upward and downward pivotal movement of the cam plate. Also pivoted in opposite projections 39 of the cross head is a pickupV arm 40 having a bell base 4| with opposite pivots 42 extending into the cross head projections 39 so that the pickup arm is subj stantially balanced |`but rests upon the cam plate 34J so. that it is rocked thereby but the pickup arm is also free to rotate in a direction 15 away from the plate for-inserting a new stylus if desired.

The pickup arm has a piel-:upy head 43 at one end with a stylus 44 projecting therefrom and held adjustably in place by a fastening screw,

which extend fastening screws 49 and 50 connected by links 5| and 52 respectively to opposite endsof a central pivoted ratioplate 53. It willbe noted that one link may be connected at a 35 different distance from the center ofthe plate than the other so that the movement of the plate properly positions both the head 43 and the coun-` terweight 45 and when the proper adjusted position isobtained one or both/of the fastening screws 40 is tightly inserted thereby engaging the edges of its slot and locking the parts in the adjusted position. To raise and lower the cam plate 34 and also the pickup arm 40 a circular cam 55 is secured to a horizontal shaft 58 below the plate 45 mounted Jin carriage supporting posts 25 extending upwardly. This cam has a ilat portion 51 at one side which allows the cam plate to fall below a position where the pickup arm bell 4| rests upon it so that during the playing of a recordthe 50 pickup arm is supported by` the stylus in engagement with therecord and underthe constant pressure determined by the counterweight adjustment. s i Attached laterally to the cam l55 and prefer- 55 ably formed'as an integral part thereof is a cam 55 having a varying rim 59 spaced from the cam 55 and adapted to engage a pin or projection 8| extending downwardly from the plate 34. This cam has a wide portion 62, a gradually narrowing 60 portion 55, a straight narrow portion 64, an outwardly extending narrow portion 65, and a straight narrow portion 66, which terminates in ,the side portion 62 so that as the cams 55 and 59" are rotated the` cam plate is -raised and lowered c5 and swung laterally in accordance with' the movement of the cams. Y In order to rotate the cams 55 and 59, a driving gear 10 is attached to the shaft 56 which is.

i 2,177,784 shoulder portion for engaging the pivoting earsA and the motor is actuated automatically at the completion of any record to raise the pickup arm to rotate it to starting position and to lower it into engagement with the record if it is to be repeated. v

As a record is played the engagement of the stylus with the grooves of the record carry the pickup arm toward the center of the record and as the cam plate 54 is then located opposite the 'flat portion 51 bf its cam 55, the playing movement of the tone arm moves the cam plate 34 about the axis of the shaft 3|V until the playing of the record is complete.` At this time a cut-ofi. switch is engagedby an adjustable contact memw ber carried by the cam plate 34 which closes an electric circuit to the motor 12. 'I'his mechanism comprises a threaded block 13 at the underside of the cam plate 34 adjustably held in place by a thumb screw 14 at the top of the plate and with a long contact screw 15 extending through they block and adjustable therein by ^a knurled head 10. vBeyond the driving gear 10 is a 'mercury switch for controlling the pickup arm motor 12 comprising a housing 15 supported by a bracket 19 from the adjacent carriage post 25. Projecting from the top of the housing is a lever 50 having a bent extremity 5| in the path of the end of the cut-0E contact screw 15 and the lower end ofthis lever has a pivot 52 upon which it is mounted on the lower arm of a lever 53 having its pivot 54 at the top of the housing 15 and having slotted aifms 85 between which the upper end of the lever 85 is movable. The lower end of the lever so beyond its pivot has o projection at engaged by one end of a spring 51,-the other end of which is secured to a flxed portion of the housing 18 so that the spring tends to hold the upper end 8| of the lever inl the path of the screw 15. Mounted on' a shaft 50 extending through the housing 15 is a cam 9| having a notch 52 adapted to be engaged by a pointed extremity 53 of the lever 80, and the cam is'llmited in its movement by a set screw 94 extending through the wall of a housing 18 into position to engage a flatlportion 95 on the cam 9|. Outside of the casing this shaft carries a spring engaging clip 55 for holding a glass mercury holding bulb 51 for making contact between conductors 95 and 55. It will be understood that when the bulb 51 is in one position the mercury makes connection between the terminals of the conductors and when in a different inclined position the electrical connection between the contacts is broken.

In order to prevent the open circuiting ofthe mercury switch, the mounting lever 53 has a projection |00 ext/ending through an opening in its housing 18 to engage a raised portion or projection 10| on the shaft driving gear 15 and attached to the endsof the arms 55 is one end of a spring |02, the other end of which is attached to a ilxed portion of the'housing 15 so that it .tends to press the projection |00 in the direction of the gear 10. When this gear is in a position where the projections |00 and |0| do not engage kthe lower end of the lever 53 it moves the lower end' of the lever 50 so that it is 'out of the path oi movement of its cam 9| and even though the lever 80 Yis actuated during this time it will not affect the operation of the-mercury switch. The

'switch is normally held in switch closing posit/ion by a spring 89 inserted at one end on the shaft 90 extending loosely around it and having its other end hooked over the bracket 19 so that it tends always to tilt the bulb 91,150 switch closing position. When the gear 10 is moved so'that its projection engagesthe projection |00, the lever 031s rocked against its spring |02l the lower end of the lever 83 is moved toward the cam 9| and i theengaging pointed extremity 93 of thelever 00 engages the notch 92 oi the pawl rocking the switch bulb 91V against its spring` 09 to' circuit opening position. When the upper extremity of this lever is engaged by the record cut-off device including the adjustable screw 15, the

pointed end 93 of the lever 90 is'rocked out of engagement with the notchof the cam 9| thereby allowing its spring 89 to kclose the switch.

At oneU end of the cam shaft 551s a cam |03 having afiat portion |04for engaging a spring contact arm |05 for making connection with a spring contact arm |06.

Supported by one of the carriage posts 25 adjacent the end of the shaft is a` bracket |01 in which spring contacts |08A and |09 are mounted in spaced apart relation which are separated by a projection ||0 carried by the cam plate 3l when it is returned to the starting position. .This separates thelcontacts'and prevents the automatic replaying of a record when the pickup arm is returned to the starting position. A record repeating connection comprises a central spring contact and two relatively iixed contacts ||2 and ||3 on opposite sides thereof. The central contact has a projection H4' engaged by a 'ilat portion. 5 of a cam ||6 near the end of the shaft 56 lso` that when the projection is.in engagement with the flat portion it makes elec trical connection between the central contact ||l and onev of the side contacts ||2 but when it is engaged by the remainder of the -cam 'it makes continuous connection withthe other contact H0.

Although the switch contacts |00-and |09 and HI, H2 and ||3 and their associated cams and .connections as weil as the contacts i9 and and its cam |5 operated by therecord motor are shown in connection with this phonograph', they are connected in series for'eiectric robophone operation as shown in connection with the application of Andres and Magruder for Electric robophonograph, filed May 18, 1936, Serial No. 80,360, and the present repeater mechanism forming the subject matter of this application may be shown in a relatively simple wiring diagram as shown in Fig.f9.

`At Ione side of the base is a manual switch ||1 having conductors ||B and ||9 for connecting i it to one of the conductors 99 of the mercury switch and thence to one-of the switch contacts |06 and the other conductor ||9 being connected to the otherI switch contact |05 which is actuated by the cam 03. The other terminal 98 of the mercury switch is connected by a conductor |20 to one side of the carriage motor l"I2: and the conductor ||9 is connected by a conductor |2| withone of the electrical supply means |22 while the other side of the motor is connected by a conductor |23 to the' other electrical supply main 120x These electrical supply mains |22 and |2I-I extend directly to thev turntable `motorand amain switch |25 controls the supply of current tov theA turntable motor and through the switches as now .described to the carriage motor.

For a single operation of the carriage motor, assuming the main switch |25to be closed, the manual switch is closed temporarily which closes `a circuit from main |22 through conductorsv |2| and, ||9,/ switch` conductor ||0, mercury switch and its conductors 99 and 90, conductor |20 to the motor '|2, and thence throughconductor |23 to the other main |24. To repeat the playing 'oLthe record the'manuai switchlllis lett i closed but it it is opened after starting the motor the cam v|00 will, maintain the contactsl |05 and |05 togetherA during anentire rotation-ot the cam |00 by its shaft 55 until' the ilat side |04 is en` gage'd by the contact |05, thusjopenin'g the connection between the contacts |05 and |0|i-and opening the connection to the carriage motor 12.

During playing ofla record the operation of thel carriage motorv is controlled by the cam 50, the mercury switch and the cut-off device; the mercury s witch being closed the projection |00 being in advance of its engagement with the projection |0| on the wheel '10. Closing the manual'switch. A energizes the carriage motor I2-as above set' forth, the ilat portion 51 of the cam 55 moves underthe cam plate .34, allowing. the pickup arm to lower the stylus into engagement with the grooves of the record.' Atv this time the pro-` jection |00 of the mercury switch'lever 83 rides.

up on the projection |0I, turning the mercury switch bulb to open position, thereby `rshutting on current and stopping the carriage motor. This l allows lthe pickup arm with the stylus riding in the record grooves to swing laterally about its Aver-- tical axis, the projection 5| ofl the cam plate' 30 thereupon beingf movable in the wide portion 62 of its cam and the tone' arm meting in this direction until the cut-oil bar 15 engagestheupper end of the cut-oil? lever 80 of the mercury switch. This causes the engaging point 93 to' be rocked downwardly outa of engagement with cam 9|, thereby releasing the mercury switch bulb` 91 and connecting the conductors 98 and 99 so that the energizing circuit is closed to the carriage I motor 1-2 through the mercury switch. Movement of the motor actuates the shaft 5,5 and the cam 59 which engages the post 5| ofthe cam plate v34, moving it laterally toward thev starting position andinto the reduced passage 64| of the cam groove. At the same time the cam "55 has been rotated with the shaft 56, first raising the cam plate 34 andthe pickup arm from playing position andas the tone arm is rotated to the starting position it is raised and kept inI elevated position so that its stylus will not engage or mar the grooves'of the record. When theY shaft 56 has rotated sufficiently to bring the vfiat portion of cam |03 to engage the spring contact |05, the connection between contacts |05 and |06 is broken and if at the same time the repeating switch |'|y is also open, the carriage motor 12-wi11 stop and the playing of the record will not berepeated. However if the switch ||1 is closed the playingcoi the record will be repeated in the same cycle svbeicre. y

' With this construction and operation of the parts. alrecord may be played once or repeated as'many4 times as desired without any manual attention thereto. A phonograph repeater of this kind is particularly adapted to be used in connection with visual and-sound devices which may lbe actuated' in timed relation to the record which sure of thestylus n a rec'ord. 1

ing the location of the pivot of the arm with respect to the turntable for playing records of different sizes, a counter-weight and a stylus movably carried by the .arm, and means for proportionately adjusting the position of the stylusand m the counter-weight in varying the length of the radius of movement ot` the stylus in playing records of different sizes. A

3. In a phonograph, a pickup arm,'means for mounting the arm intermediate its ends for rotational and tilting movement. the arm comprisinga hollow frame with slots at the ends, a stylus 7support slidable within the frame at one end, a counter-weight within the frame at the other end, means. extending through the slots u and connected to the `stylus and the vcounterweight on top of the arm for proportionately adjusting ftheradial length of the stylus support v and the counter-weight with respect to the axis of the arm for playing records of diierent Sizes.

4. In a phonograph repeater having a turntable with a motor therefor and a pickup arm for engagement and swinging \movement by records thereon, means including a unitary rotatable 4 :so cam for raising, lowering and swinging the arm,

a separate motor for driving the cam,` and means for starting and Astopping the latter motor independent of the movement Vof the turntable, said means including aswitch, a gear operated by :is the motor to vopen theswitch, and a projection ,carried by the pickup arm to close .the switch. 5. `In a repeating phonograph, a pickup arm moved by engagement with a record :from a starting to a finishing position and means forlmount- 40 ing it to swing and tilt, a cam having a periph-l eral portion to raise and lower the arm and another'laterally extending portion'to swing the arm, and another laterally extending portion to permit a free swinging movement of the arm without engaging it, a motor for driving the'cam,

and electric controlling means for the motor lto stop it and the camwhen the cam is in' the position allowing the arm to swing freely from starting to iinishing position thereof said means in- 'cluding a switch, and a gear operated by the motor having a'projection to engage and open the switch at predetermined times. 6. In a phonograph for `repeating the same record, a pickup arm mounted to swing in playing a record, 'rotary cam lmeans for mving -the arm from nishing to starting position and having `a portion allowing the arm to swing freely from starting to ilnishing position, a motor for the pickup arm and its, cam. an electric switch for controlling themotor. a cam driven by the motor y to openvthe switch while the arm is moving from starting to finishing pomtion, the switch being closed by a projection carried by the arm lifor starting the motor as soon as thev arm reaches its l5` ilnishing position and the iirst said cam then returning the arm to its starting'position.

7; In a reciprocating phonograph, a pickup arm movable to swing in engagement with the grooves of a record from starting to nishing position,

4acam having a portion( allowing the arm to swing f vfreely'li playing position, and a'. portion to engage .the arm 'f or swinging it fromnishing to f starting position, a motor for` driving thev cam in one direction, a switch for controlling the motor,-

a cam operated yby the motor to operate the switch and open the motor circuit when the arm is in record playing position, a cut-oi! device carried by the arm and lever means engaged thereby for closing the switch and reclosing the circuit to operate the motor, rotating the first cam to raise the arm from a record, and a limit switch including a gear operated by the 'motor for opening the switch and the motor circuit after the playing of a record moves the arm to the iinishing position.

8. In a phonograph, a continuously rotatable turntable motor, a movable pickup arm moved by engagement with a record from a starting to a nishing position, a separate motor and means operated thereby for raising, lowering and moving the arm from nishing to starting psition, a tilt switch in circuit with the arm motor having a Vcam wheel driven by this motor to open the switch when the arm is lowered int playing position, a trip lever for closing the switch and an adjustablel projection carried by the arm for engaging the lever in finishing Dpsition, and spring means in connection with the switch for holding itin circuit closing position except when engaged by the c am of said wheel in record playing position.

9. In a phonograph, a turntable motor, a movable pickup arm pivoted to tilt and to swing and moved by engagement with a record from a starting-to a ilnishing position, cam means for raising, lowering and moving the arm upon its pivots fromfinishing to starting position, a separate cam motor, a circuit breaker i'or the cam niotor, trip mechanism operated by the arm in finishing position for actuating the breaker to close the circuit, a stop switch operated by the arm moving cam and in series with the circuit-breaker, and a Arepeater switch connected in parallel with the stop switch' circuit and operative when closed to nullify the stop operation of the stop switch.

' l0: In a phonograph, a turntable and a motor for' operating it continuously, a movable pickup arm pivoted to tilt and to swing and moved by engagement with a record 'from a starting toa ilnishing position anda separatemotor for raising, lowering and moving the arm from finishing tdstarting position upon its pivots, switch means in circuit with the arm motor for stopping it when the arm is in playing positiommeans for closing the switchwhen the arm is in finishing position, and a double circuit in 'series with the switch'having a stop. switch and a cam therefor operated by the arm motor and a manual switch arm motor independent of th7 said stop switch or the turntable motor.

11. In a phonograph, a movable pickup arm pivoted to tilt and to swing and moved by engagement with a' record from la starting to a ilnishing position, a separate motor for pivotally raising, lowering and moving the armg from tinishing to starting position, two switchesin a series circuit for controlling the operation of the motor, one switch being operated by a cam carried by the motor to open the circuit each time a record is played and the ,arm returned to starting position,

g and repeating the operation of thel the other switch having a' cam operated by the motor for opening it when the arm is lowered to playing position and a trip lever engaged by the arm fory closingit when the arm is in nishing position, and a manual repeater switch which when operated momentarily closes a rcircuit to start the motor i'or one playing of a record and is left closed for repeat/ing the playing of a record.

y LLOYD J. ANDRES. 

